In 1966 he moved his family to Ava, Ivan Henderson Arnold was born Feb, 23, 1927, to Arthur Ivan and Edna Chilcotte Arnold in Wapello County, Iowa, and entered into his heavenly rest on Good Friday, April 14, 2006 in his home with his loving family, at the age of 79 years, one month, and 21 days.
On Feb. 9, 1947, Ivan married Phyllis Jean Dunwoody and to this union three children were born: Lois (husband Victor) Kilgore of Ava, Wanda (husband Dean) Greenwood of Columbia, and Ron (wife Becky) Arnold of Mitchell, S.D., and for years he claimed Norman and Linda Murray also as his children.
Ivan was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Edna Arnold, one brother, Clifford Arnold, one sister, Lavonne Buck, and two granddaughters, Katrina Kilgore and Andrea Arnold.
After he finished his education in Iowa, Ivan worked in the local sawmills and drove trucks before working several years for John Morrell Meat Packing. At the age of 30, Ivan accepted the call to preach and moved his young family to Cincinnati, Ohio to attend God’s Bible School. From there they moved to Bartlesville, Okla., where he completed his studies at the Pilgrim Holiness Central College. At the age of 33 he started the first church of his ministry in the family home. Later he bought an old store building with living quarters and opened the Church of God (Holiness) in Albia, Iowa.
In 1966 he once again moved his family; this time to Ava, for the children to attend Mt. Zion Bible School. He worked for Kerr-Gaston Chevrolet-Olds in Ava and Leo Holmes Ford in Mansfield. He also served as boy’s monitor, mechanics teacher, and maintenance man at Mt. Zion Bible School, a position he held until he entered the hospital in January for aortic valve replacement.
In addition to his Mt. Zion duties, he pastored intermittently.
Ivan had many affectionate names such as “Curly”, “Private Fuzz”, and “Chester.”
He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife of 59 years, Phyllis; his children; one brother, Jerry, of Leona, Wisc.; one sister, Pearl Ade, of Milwaukee, Wisc.; 17 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.
His life reflected a quiet and gentle dignity that left its mark on all who knew him. He handled his person and his affairs with meticulous precision. His love for God and the work of God was manifested in his life and in his testimony. He fought a good fight, he finished his course, and his resolve carried him at last to a triumphal entry to his eternal home. He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all who loved him.
Services were held Monday, April 17, at 2 p.m., at the Mt. Zion gymnasium, Ava. Interment followed in the Mt. Zion Cemetery. Visitation was held Sunday, April 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava. The family requests memorials to the Mt. Zion Bible School or Gideons International in care of the funeral home. Services were conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
